Ravine forests in Colchis (Georgia) – Azonal forests in a Tertiary relict flora hotspot

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00094862%3A_____%2F25%3A10005098" target="_blank" >RIV/00094862:_____/25:10005098 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/154417/" target="_blank" >https://vcs.pensoft.net/article/154417/</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/VCS.154417" target="_blank" >10.3897/VCS.154417</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Ravine forests in Colchis (Georgia) – Azonal forests in a Tertiary relict flora hotspot

Original language description

Azonal communities of ravine forests are often confined to pristine sites, and represent habitats with species-rich biota. Despite their significance for conservation biology, little attention has been paid to this vegetation in the Caucasus, one of the global biodiversity hotspots. Aims: (a) to describe the variability, ecology, and distribution patterns of ravine forests at lower elevations of Colchis in Georgia; (b) to examine the syntaxonomic position of Colchic and Caucasian ravine forests; and (c) to outline the relationships between the identified vegetation types and environmental as well as biogeographic factors. Study area: Georgia, Türkiye. Methods: Two classification analyses (beta-flexible clustering) were performed; the first on vegetation plots of ravine forests (n = 45) from Georgian Colchis, the second on an extended dataset (n = 134) that included additional plots of Caucasian ravine forests and the alliance Alnion barbatae. NMDS was applied to visualize patterns of similarity among the communities. Results: Three associations of Colchic ravine forests were distinguished, mainly reflecting the climate and bedrock: Polysticho woronowii-Ulmetum glabrae (wet climate, volcanics), Pterido creticae-Tilietum begoniifoliae (wet climate, limestones), and Polysticho aculeati-Tilietum begoniifoliae (drier climate, limestones). The classification of the extended dataset resulted in two main clusters, Colchic alluvial forests (Populetalia albae) and scree and ravine forests (Aceretalia pseudoplatani). A further partitioning distinguished between Caucasian and Colchic ravine forests. The latter represent a newly established alliance Pterido creticae-Tilion begoniifoliae, characterised by a wealth of Colchic endemic and relict species. These forests are of particular importance for safeguarding the Colchic forest biota. Conclusions: The variability of the Colchic ravine forests primarily reflects site-specific and climatic conditions, which allow their classification into three distinct associations. These stands constitute a novel alliance which complements the so-far known vegetation diversity of the prominent Colchic forests, a hotspot of Tertiary relict flora in the Northern Hemisphere.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10611 - Plant sciences, botany

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Vegetation Classification and Survey

ISSN

—

e-ISSN

2683-0671

Volume of the periodical

6

Issue of the periodical within the volume

neuveden

Country of publishing house

BG - BULGARIA

Number of pages

18

Pages from-to

191-208

UT code for WoS article

001585630000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105024949218